Landlord notice (congé): valid grounds, correct letter
AdminLanding Editorial
Reprise, vente or legitimate reason — generate a congé that states the right ground, respects the 6/3-month notice, and includes the tenant's pre-emption rights.
The three legal grounds
A landlord's notice is only valid on one of these grounds — plus the right notice period.
To live in it (reprise)
You or a close relative will use the home as a primary residence. The notice must name the beneficiary and their relationship to you.
To sell (vente)
You intend to sell the dwelling empty. On an unfurnished lease (bail vide), the tenant gets a right of first refusal (droit de préemption) at the stated price and terms — a furnished lease gives no such right.
Legitimate & serious reason
A serious breach by the tenant (repeated late rent, nuisance, unauthorized sublet…). The notice must state the precise, provable ground.
Notice period & timing
Six months before lease end (unfurnished) or three months (furnished). The congé must reach the tenant before the notice window opens.
Giving notice in France: the rules
Only at the lease term
A landlord cannot end a tenancy whenever they like. Under Article 15 of the 1989 Law, the congé can only take effect on the lease's end date, with six months' notice for an unfurnished lease or three months for a furnished one. Miss the timing and the lease renews automatically for a full new term.
What the notice must contain
- The exact ground (reprise, vente, or legitimate and serious reason).
- For reprise: the beneficiary's identity and relationship to the landlord.
- For vente: the price and conditions, plus the legal pre-emption notice.
- The Loi 89-462 information notice attached for reprise and vente.
Protected tenants
A tenant over 65 with resources below a set ceiling cannot be evicted by congé unless offered suitable rehousing nearby — except where the landlord is themselves over 65 or of modest means. Always verify this before sending, as a notice given to a protected tenant is void.
Dealing with a serious breach mid-lease instead? See unpaid rent and formal notice.
Quick answer
A French landlord can only end a residential lease on the three grounds of Article 15 of the loi du 6 juillet 1989 — taking the home back for themselves or close family (reprise), selling it (congé pour vente, which on an unfurnished lease gives the tenant a right of first refusal), or a legitimate and serious reason such as repeated payment failures. The notice must reach the tenant at least 6 months before the lease ends for unfurnished rentals, 3 months for furnished, and only takes effect at the lease's term. AdminLanding generates all three congé letters with the mandatory loi 89-462 information notice attached for reprise and vente.
Notice periods depend on the lease type — see the lease agreement rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grounds, notice period, delivery, pre-emption, and protected tenants.
On what grounds can a landlord give notice (congé)?
How much notice must I give?
How must the notice be delivered?
What is the tenant's right of first refusal for a sale?
Are some tenants protected from a congé?
Can I give notice in the middle of the lease?
Important: AdminLanding is a technology platform, not a law firm. We do not practice law, provide legal advice, or act as lawyers (avocats), notaries (notaires), or any regulated legal professional as defined by French Law No. 71-1130 of December 31, 1971. The documents provided are general-purpose templates for convenience only — they do not constitute personalized legal advice. Congé rules carry strict formal requirements; we strongly recommend consulting a qualified professional before serving notice.
Secure Vault — included with every pack
Store your generated documents in an encrypted vault. Administrative Intelligence reports, fiscal analyses, CERFA forms, rent receipts, letters — all your generated documents in one secure place, encrypted on your device before upload.
Serve notice the right way
Compliant congé letters plus 23 rental documents. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Start free — first property freeFirst property free — then €49/property (€39 each additional)
EU-hosted • ALUR compliant • Article 15 loi 89-462
Editorial deep-dives
Want the longer version of this story?
AdminLanding ships the operational tools. The editorial sites — ExpatAdminHub for expat / cross-border life and GreenDailyFix for renovation aid — go deeper on the why and the how.
Free tools on AdminLanding
Your data is handled with strict protection and EU hosting practices.